Dr. Vanessa Kovachy
Dr. Vanessa Kovachy is a certified school psychologist. Dr. Kovachy earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University in the field of Psychology. After graduating, Dr. Kovachy conducted research at Stanford University School of Medicine studying the effects of preterm birth on neural development and academic performance. She piloted, managed, and conducted the assessments investigating how children born preterm differed in their academic, functional, behavioral, and social emotional functioning compared to their full-term peers. During this tenure, Dr. Kovachy published several peer reviewed articles, presented at national conferences, and added considerable and important information to the field of educational neuroscience and developmental medicine. Dr. Kovachy earned her Masters of Arts in Education and additional certification in School-Based Mental Health Services at Alliant International University. She then earned her Doctorate in Educational Psychology at Alliant International University. Her dissertation focused on the Best Practices in the School- based Assessment of Children Born Preterm.
Dr. Kovachy worked as a school psychologist in Northern California before moving to Illinois. She has since worked in the public schools in the North Shore. Dr. Kovachy has used her expertise to provide consultation to educators and parents. She provided on- site training for teachers and staff on behavioral and academic intervention, progress monitoring, and best practice techniques for evaluating complex learning needs. Above all, Dr. Kovachy emphasized that all individuals are deserving of unconditional positive regard. Using a strengths-based approach, Dr. Kovachy conducted thorough and cross- disciplinary evaluations of individuals, and ensured that both the school team and family left meetings feeling knowledgeable, understood, included in the educational assessment and planning, and most importantly, empowered. Dr. Kovachy believes that an individual’s neurodiversity can be a strength, and should be embraced, acknowledged, and celebrated.
Dr. Kovachy has extensive and advanced training on the assessment of developmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorders. She uses a variety of techniques to elucidate the neuropsychological underpinnings of specific learning disabilities (e.g. dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and intellectual disabilities. Dr. Kovachy also has extensive experience with both evaluating and providing interventions, counseling, and parent training for individuals with social emotional and behavioral disorders, including oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression. Dr. Kovachy advocates for the use of science-based intervention, collaboration with school and medical teams, and ongoing support for both the individual and family to meet the needs of all individuals.
Dr. Ashley Ehrhardt
Dr. Ashley Ehrhardt is a board certified School Psychologist and American Board School Neuropsychologist Diplomate. She received her Doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from National-Louis University after completing her Master’s work in Social Science Research at the University of Chicago. Dr. Ehrhardt furthered her educational experience by completing a Post-Doctoral training program in School Neuropsychology through Texas Woman’s University. With a strong foundation in research, Dr.Ehrhardt worked as the Project Director for a National Institute of Mental Health funded research project validating the criteria used to diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Dr. Ehrhardt worked as a School Psychologist for the Wilmette Public Schools in both the Early Childhood and Elementary programs. Currently, Dr. Ehrhardt conducts developmental evaluations for the Latin School of Chicago and she volunteers for “Adventure Camp”, a one-week intensive treatment program for children diagnosed with Selective Mutism. Her work in private practice focuses on the diagnostic assessments of students from early childhood through college. Dr. Ehrhardt has specialized training in trans-disciplinary play based assessments as well as the assessment and diagnosis of early childhood disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the treatment of Selective Mutism.
Courtney Radde
Courtney Radde graduated from Grand Valley State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology/Special Education. She went on to pursue a master’s degree in reading from Concordia University. Prior to joining PRS, Courtney worked as a learning behavior specialist in the Wilmette Public Schools. During her time in Wilmette, Courtney co-taught 6th grade and provided specialized instruction in reading, writing, and academic strategies tailored to students’ individual needs. Since joining PRS in 2008, Courtney has played a pivotal role in the educational therapy arm of the practice, providing remediation to students in addition to being a co-evaluator in the evaluation process. Her holistic approach focuses on empowering students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and anxiety to reach their full potential academically and emotionally.
Gretchen Anderson
Gretchen Anderson earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Gretchen was a learning behavior specialist in Wilmette Public School District 39 after starting her career in Woodstock Community Unit School District 200. Gretchen advocates for students with a variety of educational needs including learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral needs, and ADHD. At PRS, Gretchen is an engaged team member involved in the intake and evaluation process, bringing valuable insights and expertise throughout the procedure. Through PRS Educational Therapy, Gretchen supports students in executive functioning skills, reading, writing, and mathematics.
Meagan Harlow-Kuzucu
Meagan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 from Manchester College (now Manchester University) and Masters of Education in 2011 from National-Louis University. She is a certified Learning and Behavior Specialist (LBS1). Meagan has worked as an educator at The Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School (2007-2014), The Ancona School (2019 – 2024) and as a Learning Specialist and Co-Evaluator at PRS (2014 – 2019, 2024-present). Meagan has worked with students ages 3-18 both in-person and online in both school and home settings. This broad array of experiences has led her to become skilled in teaching reading, writing and mathematics as well as excelling at developing both student and family social-emotional regulation, executive functioning and organizational skills. Outside of work, Meagan enjoys spending time with her family, pets, and friends, traveling and taking photographs.
Megan Cole Paustian
Megan Cole Paustian received her PhD in Literatures in English from Rutgers University and her BA in English from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In addition to collaborating with PRS, she is an Associate Professor of English at North Central College in Naperville, where she has taught writing and literature courses since 2013. She is also the author of Humanitarian Fictions: Africa, Altruism, and the Humanitarian Imagination. Through her experience as both a teacher and a writer, Megan understands that the writing process is often overwhelming; through one-on-one work with students, she breaks that process down into manageable steps and concrete strategies, tailored to individual student needs. This personalized approach gives students tools for improvement, while also helping them see their strengths and the value of their own ideas.
Mina Caputo
Mina Caputo holds her bachelor’s degree in psychology and communications from Butler University. She received her M.Ed. with a Learning Behavior Specialist endorsement from DePaul University. She has over seven years of experience in education working with students ranging from kindergarten through high school and is trained in multisensory language programs. Mina has provided instruction and remediation in various subjects, including math, reading, writing and executive functioning. Additionally, Mina assists with the evaluations and coordination efforts associated with the evaluation and educational therapy processes. She has worked with PRS colleagues since 2011.
Jenna Pahnke
Jenna Pahnke received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Secondary Education from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and her Master of Arts in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University. Prior to joining PRS, she worked in the Wilmette School District for 7 years as a Learning Behavior Specialist. She works with a variety of students from 1st grade through high school but specializes in middle school-aged students. When not working with students, Jenna enjoys spending time with her 3 energetic boys.
Dina Scavuzzo
Dina Scavuzzo graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in history. Following this, Dina obtained her Masters in Teaching Secondary Education from National Louis University. Before joining PRS, Dina taught high school English in Palatine and Grayslake for 7 years, as well as English as a Foreign Language for 1 year in Florence, Italy. In each of these teaching positions, Dina has worked with students of many ages, but her main focus has been at the high school level, where she taught Freshman and Sophomore English, as well as Senior Creative and Expository Writing. Dina spent a lot of her career in the co-taught setting, where she collaborated with special education teachers, counselors, and students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and those who needed additional academic support within the general education classroom. Dina is passionate about practicing skills that will benefit the well-being of a child as a whole, in addition to teaching the curriculum. Dina has recently left the regular classroom to be with her son and baby number two on the way, but still enjoys providing educational and emotional support to students in the areas of writing, organization, and test prep – specifically the ACT.
Andrew Frost
Andrew received his Master’s of Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has 16 years of experience as a teacher of diverse learners at Walter Payton College Prep. He has extensive experience structuring IEPs that authentically support his students, who may have trouble navigating the demands of a rigorous all-honors and AP curriculum. His specialty is creating and maintaining a positive and consistent rapport with both his students and their parents.
He also serves as a learning specialist to students who need specific content-area help or test preparation for standardized exams, including the ACT and GRE.
Originally from the east coast, Andrew is an avid New York Mets fan who is well-aware of the dangers involved in maintaining his allegiance to his team while residing in Chicago. Aside from teaching, Andrew enjoys performing with a variety of musical acts around the city as a drummer and a singer. He recently took on the role of coaching his son’s Little League team, which was a profound and humbling experience. When at home, he enjoys reading and playing guitar and singing with his wife.
Lexi Schneider
Lexi Schneider received a Bachelor of Science as a Learning Behavior Specialist I from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She worked as a special education teacher in the public school setting for 10 years. During that time, she went on to receive a Master of Arts in Reading Education at Concordia University. Lexi has worked with children with a wide range of disabilities. She provided varying levels of support for students in both the general education setting and small group environment. Lexi has extensive experience creating Individualized Education Programs in addition to formal Behavior Intervention Plans. Throughout Lexi’s career as a special educator, she has had the opportunity to collaborate and co-treat with related service professionals both in the public and private settings.
Dan Schwartzman
Dan has taught for 12 years. He started his career in education as a classroom teacher teaching at a K-6th grade school in Chicago. After being a classroom teacher, he was a Learning Behavior Specialist in Evanston for three years and is now a Learning Behavior Specialist in Wilmette. He received a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Northeastern Illinois University and Masters in School Administration from Concordia University of Chicago.
Kathy Tambornino
Kathy Tambornino is a LBS1 certified Special Education Teacher for the last 17 years. She is also a special education advocate for families and a certified reading specialist. Kathy is dedicated to connecting with her students she works with, and meeting them right where they are at in their education. Relationships with her students and their families benefit the success. Her expertises and over 30 years of experience with all different needs of children, from dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism, deaf and hard of hearing, to emotional and behavior disorders, and medically fragile students. Kathy’s enthusiasm and energy pours into her fun and engaging methods of instruction in her sessions.
Betsy Oroni
Betsy Oroni earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. She also received her M.Ed. with a Learning Behavior Specialist 2 endorsement, transition endorsement, and multiple disabilities endorsement from the University of Illinois Chicago. Betsy worked as a special education teacher for a self-contained classroom for 3 years. For the past 4 years, Betsy has worked as a special education resource teacher at the elementary age in Wilmette School District 39. Betsy has over 7 years of experience, working with a range of students from kindergarten to high school. Betsy is trained in multi sensory reading programs and has provided instruction and remediation in various subjects including reading, writing, and math. Betsy works hard to understand each student’s individual needs and caters her instruction to them.
Dori Ceisel
Dori Ceisel comes to us as a retired teacher who still enjoys assisting students become more successful in all their endeavors. She has a masters in Special Education and worked within Maine Township High School District 207 from 2000-2017. During her tenure, she balanced a Special Education caseload acting as a mentor and liaison for her students and taught classes on a daily basis. In the classroom, her main focus was teaching the sciences. She is certified in Biology- her original degree-, Chemistry, Earth System Science, and Physics. She taught both independently and within a co-taught environment. She also taught Reading 1 & 2, English 1,2,& 3, Math, and Health, and provided tutoring assistance to students on a daily basis through a structured study hall for her students. In 2010, she earned National Board Certification, in which she focused on detailing strategies for organization, time management, and consistent completion of tasks through practicing Executive Functioning skills. This experience solidified her techniques for guiding students to regularly practice more skills identified under the category of Executive Function. She incorporated these skills across all curriculum on a daily basis for the remainder of her tenure in Maine Township.
Kaitlin West
Kaitlin West was a double major at Principia College studying elementary education and mass communication. She holds a K-9 teaching certificate as well as a middle school language arts endorsement. Kaitlin has taught grades K-8 in both private and public schools and is currently teaching in Northbrook. In her downtime she enjoys reading, walking outside, and playing at the park with her children. Kaitlin prides herself on the long-standing relationships that she builds with her students and their families and enjoys helping them confidently reach new levels in their academic careers.
Kaitlin West
Kaitlin West was a double major at Principia College studying elementary education and mass communication. She holds a K-9 teaching certificate as well as a middle school language arts endorsement. Kaitlin has taught grades K-8 in both private and public schools and is currently teaching in Northbrook. In her downtime she enjoys reading, walking outside, and playing at the park with her children. Kaitlin prides herself on the long-standing relationships that she builds with her students and their families and enjoys helping them confidently reach new levels in their academic careers.
Mavreen Dunlavy
Mavreen graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and currently works as an Instructional Assistant in a special education classroom in the northwest suburbs. In her current role, Mavreen supports teachers through lesson preparation, student supervision, and individualized instruction while fostering an inclusive learning environment. Mavreen’s previous experience as Operations Manager for Junior Achievement involved coordinating volunteers and securing donations for educational programs, and her time as an Office Manager honed her organizational and communication skills for effective collaboration with educators. Passionate about helping students excel academically, Mavreen enjoys playing pickleball and spending time with her three children in her free time.